This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 5, March 5-11, 2006
Cordillera Women Call for GMA’s Ouster on Women’s
Month The
Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera, Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (Samakana
or Association of United Poor Women), and Association of Women in Theology (AWIT)
call for the immediate ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) as they
celebrate Women’s Month this March. BY
PINK-JEAN FANGON MELEGRITO BAGUIO CITY – The Innabuyog-Gabriela
Cordillera, Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (Samakana or the
Association of United Poor Women), and Association of Women in Theology (AWIT)
call for the immediate ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) as they
celebrate Women’s Month this March. The declaration of the
state of national emergency through Presidential Proclamation 1017, according to
them, is a tool of repression and a “death sentence” to democracy in the
country. “Why does the state focus
its violence on legitimate representatives, when in fact, GMA is not
legitimately voted by the people?” Vernie Yocogan-Diano, Innabuyog-Gabriela
secretary general, said reacting to the arrest of Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP)
representative Liza Maza. Sr. Alice Sobrevinas, OSB,
spoke of the Church’s role in this present political crisis. “The root of this
chaos is brought about by people who do not think” she said in Filipino. “The
Church has different calls – be vigilant, watchful. However, we also need to
participate. We need one courageous response to let the truth out.” For the urban poor sector,
Samakana’s Geraldine Cacho said that the poor remain poor because of the
festered government. “The government is very vicious,” Cacho said in Filipino.
“The women and children of miners on strike at Lepanto were underprivileged.
Sidewalk vendors are driven away as if it is illegal for us to live.”
“We can’t study because of
perpetual price increases,” she added. “We cannot find jobs since the government
does not provide enough jobs. In addition, when we try looking for our own
means, like sidewalk vending, we are declared as illegal and driven away. What
is legal then? Are we poor because we are lazy or because the government is very
irresponsible?” Meanwhile, Diano announced
several activities in Baguio for Women’s Month. On March 7, Sen. Jamby Madrigal
will speak for “Voices of Women for Civil Liberties” at the UP Baguio
auditorium. On March 8, the International Working Women’s Day, a photo exhibit,
an ecumenical service at the Igorot Park, and a “Human Chain against Poverty and
Hunger” along Session Road will take place. Diano concluded that they
will continue fighting for women’s rights, and for the ouster of GMA, with or
without a state of emergency. “We are calling for a state of urgency for GMA to
step down,” she stated. With reports from Joanne Lacsina/ Northern Dispatch /
Posted by Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
NORTHERN DISPATCH
Posted by Bulatlat